Wildlife Blog

Poop Power: Toronto Zoo Animal Feces to be Converted to Energy

Construction of the ZooShare Biogas Cooperative plant in Toronto will begin soon, and in 2012, excrement from Toronto Zoo animals like rhinos and bison along with food waste from a grocery retailer will produce 4 million kilowatt hours a year, enough energy to power 350 homes every day, for a year.

The process works when the waste and bacteria ferment and gas bubbles of methane come to the surface. The gas is captured and burned, producing energy.

In 2012, poop from animals like this rhino at the Toronto Zoo will be converted into energy. Photo credit: leander.canaris